192[1] YEAR
5
7463

ON THE BZYBSK FOREST CONCESSION IN THE CAUCASUS
MEMORANDUM OF I. V. STALIN
August 31, 1921

Comrade Lenin!

I am sending you the contract between the Georgians and the concessionaires.

I. Stalin

DIRECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS MANAGEMENT
September 1, 1921

It is necessary (1) to clarify whether the Georgian comrades have observed the condition (was there such a thing? a party one?) not to conclude concessions without our consent?

(2) To examine whether the conditions of the given contract are advantageous in substance (in particular, who is the super-arbitrator?). For this, through the CC, appoint 1–3 experts and instruct them to provide a written opinion.

Do (through the CC) both (1) and (2)*.

Lenin

G
7507

DIRECTIVE TO THE CONCESSIONS COMMITTEE
September 13, 1921

To the Concessions Committee
Supreme Council of the National Economy

Copy to the Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy

I propose that you report to me today and as soon as possible:

1) When was the first report by the Chairman (or member) of the Concessions Committee to the CC on the concession of Leslie Urquhart (Kyshtym, Ridder, Ekibastuz plants, etc.)?

* Having discussed this question on September 30, 1921, the Council of Labor and Defense resolved to accept the contract: "Approve the draft resolution submitted by comrade Ordzhonikidze" (Protocol No. 254, item 7).

LENIN COLLECTION

2) Who was the rapporteur?

3) What materials on this matter were requested and received from the localities? (descriptions of the plants? the latest reports from these plants, etc.?).

4) A brief enumeration in 2–3 lines of each of the documents (date? from whom the document? on what subject?—the request sent; the reply received; such-and-such a report taken from the archives; the conclusion of such-and-such a specialist, etc.).

The Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the National Economy and the management of the Council of People's Commissars personally and by telephone must verify the swift execution.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense
Lenin

7942

TO THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE'S COMMISSARS
November 23, 1921

S e c r e t

Yesterday the Council of People's Commissars referred to Your Commission the question of the contract with Steinberg. Today in *Izvestiia* Gorsky calculates that Steinberg on 100,000 kilos of saccharin will make a profit of 194 b i l l i o n Soviet rubles (whereas it will cost him 600,000 rubles per kilo, i.e., all 100,000 kilos will cost 60,000 million = 60 billion; % profit thus 194 : 60 = 323%).

If Gorsky's calculation is correct, then the profit is gigantic. It seems that the RSFSR has a share of the superprofits, considering profit above 250% as superprofits?

Is it not possible to:

(1) Haggle so that we receive a special share of the superprofits, considering superprofits to be 100 or 200%?

(2) Specially secure for ourselves the possibility of teaching our people (especially in the Central Union of Consumer Cooperatives) the methods and organization of trade?

(3) Specially secure for ourselves the possibility of terminating the contract earlier, when we, fools, have learned from clever people.

In my opinion, the contract should still be concluded, after haggling a hundred times and checking a hundred times, because for learning, fools must pay a high price.

I request your opinion.

Chairman of the Council of Labor and Defense
Lenin